'Book 'em, Cocky': Band in 'Hawaii 5-O' theme challenge

College students are too young to remember the classic, 1970s TV show, “Hawaii 5-0,” but members of the University of South Carolina Marching Band recently spent a week learning the show’s iconic theme song in hopes of winning $25,000.

The USC band was one of 16 college marching bands to be asked by CBS to compete in the “Marching Band Mania” contest connected with the network’s remake of “Hawaii 5-0.”

The voting started right after the TV drama’s premiere at 10 p.m. September 20. Ballots can be cast for the Mighty Sound of the Southeast at www.cbscollegesports.com. Voting ends at midnight October 4, and the winner will be announced on CBS on October 11.

USC Band Director Steve McKeithen told the 270 members of the band, who might not remember the program or its song, to go to YouTube to find it. Because of the football schedule, he said, the band only had a week and two formal rehearsals to learn the song.

The video, shot the night before the Georgia-South Carolina game, includes a surfboard-toting Cocky and lei-wearing members of the Coquettes, the band’s dance team.

Bands will be judged on musicianship, band choreography and originality of the performance.

“Our arrangement is very similar to the song from the 1970s,” McKeithen said.